Last year was a banner year for video games, but one title that truly captured the hearts of players and critics alike was the indie roguelike sensation, Balatro. Developed single-handedly, this game not only garnered critical acclaim but also achieved staggering commercial success, with sales soaring past an impressive 5 million copies.
Just over a month ago, the game's developer, LocalThunk, was celebrating a significant milestone of 3.5 million copies sold. In an astonishing turn of events, Balatro managed to sell an additional 1.5 million copies in just about 40 days. This rapid surge in sales can likely be attributed to the so-called "The Game Awards effect," a phenomenon the developer alluded to in a tweet.
Harvey Elliott, the CEO of publisher Playstack, hailed this achievement as a remarkable feat deserving of celebration. He expressed profound pride in both LocalThunk and the dedicated team at Playstack for their contributions to the game's success.
Even nearly a year post-launch, Balatro continues to flourish. The card-based roguelike game is still going strong, regularly receiving updates and exciting collaborations. Recently, it even achieved a new personal record for peak concurrent players on Steam, showcasing its enduring popularity and appeal.
